We covered the following on this day –
- Marina Bay Sands
- Gardens by the Bay
- Merlion Park
- Raffles Hotel Singapore
- River Cruise
- Dalhousie Obelisk, The First Generation
- Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall (VTCH)
Marina Bay Sands – Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is an integrated resort known for its iconic architecture and luxury offerings, including a 57-story hotel, a casino, high-end shopping, celebrity chef restaurants, the Sands Skypark Observation Deck with the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool, and a large convention center.
The lotus-like structure in front of Marina Bay Sands is the ArtScience Museum. Its architecture resembles an opening lotus flower and is surrounded by a lotus pond. It serves as a museum for exhibits that blend art, science, and technology.
The Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck offers panoramic, 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline, allowing visitors to see landmarks like the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer, and more. Located 200 m above the city, the deck provides a stunning vantage point to observe the city during the day, witness vibrant sunsets, and see the urban landscape light up at night.
Gardens by the Bay – is an independent organization responsible for developing and managing one of Asia’s foremost garden destinations. It is a beautifully designed green space, perfect for a relaxing walk.
Gardens by the Bay, Supertree Grove – A collection of iconic, tree-like vertical gardens up to 16 stories tall, that are integrated with the environment, harvesting solar energy and collecting rainwater.
Gardens by the Bay, Temporary Art Exhibits – The large, inflated, egg-shaped lights floated on the Dragonfly Lake, appearing white by day and changing to various colors with music at night. This was a temporary installation to celebrate Singapore’s 200th anniversary (bicentennial). In daylight, the eggs appeared white. From 7 PM to midnight, the eggs were illuminated in bright colors, such as purple, blue, yellow, and red.
Gardens by the Bay, Floral Clock – This large, seven-meter-wide clock is decorated with tropical plants and can be found near the visitor center.
Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome – The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean regions like South Africa, California and parts of Spain and Italy. Home to a collection of plants from deserts all over the world, it showcases the adaptations of plants to arid environments.
Merlion Park – Merlion Park is a waterfront park centered around the Merlion Statue. The statue, a mythical creature with a lion’s head and a fish’s body, is the national personification of Singapore and symbolizes the nation’s historical name Singapura (Lion City) and its origins as a fishing village. The park offers beautiful views of the Marina Bay skyline, including the Marina Bay Sands.
Raffles Hotel Singapore – is a historic, luxury hotel founded in 1887 by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers and named after Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. As a designated National Monument, the hotel is renowned for its preserved colonial architecture, gracious service, and luxury amenities, including an iconic Singapore Sling, afternoon tea in the lobby, and an award-winning spa.
River Cruise – We had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant in Clarke Quay with Radhi and her daughters. We then went on a 1-hour night cruise aboard a boat along Singapore river.
Dalhousie Obelisk – This memorial was erected in 1850 by Chinese and Malay citizens to honor James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, first Marquess of Dalhousie, and to promote free trade in Singapore. It’s a historic landmark located on Empress Lawn, near the Singapore River.
The First Generation – is a series of bronze statues created by Chong Fah Cheong, which depicts 5 boys diving into Singapore River. This sculpture is part of the larger People of the River series that captures scenes from Singapore’s early days along the river.
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall (VTCH) – is Singapore’s oldest performing arts venue. The VTCH comprises two blocks of building constructed more than 43 years apart, in 1862 and 1905, and joined by a clock tower. The 54-metre clock tower joining the two blocks was completed in 1906.
The present theatre and concert hall were originally known as the Town Hall and Victoria Memorial Hall respectively. Historically, both were used for functions ranging from public events and political meetings to musical and stage performances. The space has undergone a series of renovations over the years, the most recent being a four-year restoration, following which the VTCH was reopened to the public in July 2014.
